It’s not a camera trial: Anisul

Law Minister Anisul Huq today trashed BNP’s allegation of holding a camera trial against Khaleda Zia and said a court has been set up inside the Old Dhaka central jail in order to ensure her security.

“It’s not a camera trial. The main accused [Khaleda] of the case has not been appearing before the court over the last seven months on security reason. Therefore, the court has been set up,” Anisulsaid.

He was talking to reporters after attending meeting titled as “Samatale Khudra Jatisotta O Dalit Janogosthir Odhikar Surokkha:Pratishthanik Neeti Kathamor Dabi (Protection of small entities and Dalit people at plain lands: Demand for institutional principle structures” at the daily Samakal office in capital’s Tejgaon area.

The law minister said as per definition, the camera trial means such a court where public or media cannot enter and where only the judge and the accused and lawyers, if necessary, are kept.

The law minister said BNP’s lawyers are hatching a plot to boycott the trial proceedings without trying to prove their client innocent.

“It has been proven that they (BNP lawyers) are convicting themselves. That is why they don’t want to face the trial. I think they have no disadvantage to prove them (accused of the case) innocent. The trial is running smoothly and fairly. They will get justice,” Minister Anisul Huq said.

He said Khaleda Zia, the accused of Zia Charitable Trust case, has talked to journalists at the court.

“Therefore, it is evident that the court was open for all and access of anybody was not restricted there. And it is not covered in the definition of the camera trial,” he.

Replying to a question, the law minister said his office is yet to receive the legal notice issued by Khaleda Zia requesting the law ministry to cancel and rescind the gazette notification under which the court was set up at old Dhaka central jail.

“I will take the decision after getting the legal notice,” he added.